Accurate Truths

He never intended to initiate an avalanche of science-fiction literature, but a simple misunderstanding sparked a theory that wouldn’t die for decades. In 1877, Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli was mapping the surface of the planet Mars. He called the dark and light areas he observed as “seas” and “continents.” Then he labelled what he thought were channels using the Italian word “canali.”

Schiaparelli’s peers translated this word as “canals” and launched a theory that these had been created by intelligent life on the Red Planet. U.S. astronomer Percival Lowell mapped out hundreds of these “canals” and published three books on the supposed artificial structures that were supposedly built to carry water. Lowell influenced another writer, H. G. Wells, to create his famous The War of the Worlds, which describes Martians invading Earth. NASA has since assured that there are no alien- made channels crisscrossing Mars.

Some critics claim that the Bible is filled with errors. They believe the copied manuscripts changed over the centuries and cannot be trusted. It is true that scholars have found minor variations made by copyists, but the essential truths have not changed. Archaeology has proven that many supposed errors were misunderstandings on the part of translators—somewhat like Schiaparelli’s peers—who were unfamiliar with biblical customs.

In the same way that Jesus “became flesh and dwelt among us,” the Bible was given to us in the language of humanity so that we could understand divine truth. But people are limited in their ability to perceive heavenly realities. Despite efforts to destroy the Bible, it has been miraculously preserved and still accurately reveals God’s perfect will for our lives.

Apply It:

Some words change meaning over time. Look up a few of these words in the King James Version and then study a Bible dictionary or commentary for their modern meaning: “carriages” in Acts 21:15, “charger” in Mark 6:25, and “leasing” in Psalm 4:2.

Dig Deeper:

Psalm 25:5; Daniel 8:12; 1 Thessalonians 2:13

Key Bible Texts

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14 KJV)